Brush



Feb. 7,1939. H KmScH 2,146,075

BRUSH Filed Jan. 28, 1957 INVENTOR 5/00N/E' h. K/ZSC/l 2: A ORNEYS'.

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to brushes and more particularly to-the *typewhich are primarily useful in clean-ingthe finger nails and the cuticle at the base of the finger nails.

One of the objects of the invention is'to provide ventilation and drainage for the bristles to the end that the bristles will not be softened in use by water absorption. 7

Another object of the invention is by said ventilation and drainage to promote a speedy drying of the base of the brush and of the ends of the bristles embedded therein so as to avoid deterioration of the base, as by splitting, more particularly at the points where the bristles are embedded in the brush.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide for the fingers adjacent and operating in connection with the finger nail cleaning portion of the brush so formed as to afford a minimum of abrasion on the face of the finger nails.

Another object of the invention is to form certain of the drainage portions of the base in such shape that they may be employed for what is commonly called in the trade cuticle pushers.

Another 'object'of' the invention in connection with the drainage feature hereof is to give to the cuticle portion of the brush a sweeping curve so as to fit the cuticle of the fingers when the hand is bent in fist form.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the size of brushes of the general character above described to a minimum consistent with efficiency.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent as this description proceeds.

I have chosen for illustrative purposes in the drawing hereof a suitable embodiment of my invention which embodiment, however, must be understood as conveniently illustrative and not limitative upon the various features of the invention shown.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the brush shown as standing upright on its drainage points of support;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the brush shown in Fig. 1 viewed from the right end thereof;

Fig, 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, with only the center upper and lower tufts of the bristles being illustrated in full lines.

The base 6 of the brush illustrated preferably has its top 1 formed as a plane surface and its bottom 8 formed with a suitable long sweeping curve extending from end to end, said curve conveniently constituting a portion of the periphery of a cylinder the axis of which is parallel with the cross-sectional line of the plane upper face. At the ends the lower curved surface is formed with upwardly extending curves 9, 9, said curves conveniently constituting portions of the periphery of a cylinder the axis of which is at right angles to the axis of the cylinder a portion of whose periphery forms the lower curved surface 8 of the base.

This construction of the bottom of the base gives the base two points of support I0, I!) at each end with the entire under surface of the base curving downwardly to these points of support and provides for a maximum of drainage when the brush rests on said points of support.

Numerous tufts of suitable bristles I5, 15 are 15 embedded in the top I of the base preferably as a single row well to the front thereof. These are the bristles intended primarily for use in cleaning the finger nails at the ends where dirt accumulates beneath the ends of finger nails ex tending outwardly from the quick.

Numerous tufts of suitable bristles I6, I6 are embedded in the lower curved bottom 8 of the base preferably as a single row substantially at the middle thereof. These are the bristles intended primarily for use in cleaning the cuticle.

Reference to Fig. 3 will show that the ends of the bristles l5 and I6 on the center cross section of the brush slightly overlap, the bottom of the bristles I5 extending well toward the lower surface of the base and the top of the bristles I6 extending well toward the top of the base. While this overlapping within the base of the bristles l5 and I6 obviously diminishes from the center cross-sectional line of the brush towards each end, it is apparent that the drainage feature of the brush just described is common to both the upper and lower sets of bristles and functions in respect to both sets of bristles for a speedy drainage thereof thus preventing softening and deterioration of the bristles themselves. Furthermore by this speedy drainage there is prevented the deterioration of the base (as by splitting) both at and beneath its upper surface and at and beneath its lower surface which deterioration would otherwise occur due to the softening and swelling of the bristles where they are embedded in the base and in cases where the material of the base is damaged by moisture, such for example, as where wood is employed.

To the rear of the base on the top I I provide an upward extension l8 which has its forward face curved rearwardly from bottom to top and which terminates well above the ends of the bristles I5. It is this upward extension l8 which serves as a guide for the fingers in cleaning the finger nails with the upper bristles I5. I have found that the rearwardly curved surface of the extension or guide is greatly beneficial in avoiding abrasion of the face of the finger nails in using the brush. A straight face on similar extensions heretofore common in the prior art is most objectionable.

A ventilation slot 20 is provided through and at the bottom of the upward extension l8, substantially in line with the upper face of thebase I. This ventilation slot extends as near to each end of the extension as structural strength permits. The function of the ventilation slot 20 is in part to ventilate the upper row of bristles I5 and the upper surface I of the base and thereby promote evaporation of water collecting on these parts, and in part to afford drainage for the base 6 and for both upper and lower rows of bristles from the interior of the base 6, during such time as the brush may be laid on its back rather than set upright on its drainage points l0, I0.

The curved edges of the bottom of the, base at each end between points I0, I serve admirably as cuticle pushers herein above referred to.

It will be observed from the foregoing that while there are upper and lower rows of bristles mounted on the same base the structure is unified not only physically but functionally in that the drainage features of the structure operate to prevent deterioration of both upper and lower rows of bristles and as well tend to preserve the base as a Whole from deterioration such as splitting, which would otherwise be occasioned by the water carried into the interior thereof by the bristles and by the interior swelling of the bristles.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding and no undue limitation should be inferred therefrom but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim: I

1. A base for a brush, which brush is characterized by oppositely disposed rows of bristles, one row extending upwardly and the other row extending downwardly from the base, the base at the bottom being formed with a concave undersurface arcuate lengthwise of the base and extending from end to end thereof .and to the longitudinal side edges to provide upwardly concave side edges, and at each end with a concave undersurface which is arcuate transversely of the base and at right angles to the concave undersurface at the bottom to provide upwardly concave end edges, the concave undersurface of the bottom intercepting the concave undersurface at each end and combining with the concave undersurfaces at the ends to form four points of support two of which are at each end of the base, said points of support comprising drainage points for the oppositely disposed bristles and combining one with the other in the drainage of the bristles.

2. A base for a brush, which brush istcharacterized by oppositely disposed rows of bristles,-

one row extending upwardly and the other rod extending downwardly from the base, the base being provided with a guide extending upwardly adjacent said upwardly extending row of bristles, the base at the bottom being formed with a concave undersurface arcuate lengthwise of the base and extending from end to end thereof and to the longitudinal side edges to provide upwardly concave side edges, and at each end with a concave undersurface which is arcuate transversely of the base and at right angles to the concave undersurface at the bottom to provide. upwardly concave end edges, the concave undersurface of the bottom intercepting the concave undersurfaoe at each end and combining with the concave undersurfaces at the ends to form four points of support two of which are at each end of the base, said points of support comprising drainage points for the oppositely disposed bristles and, com 

